Smith in struggle to relax

Graeme Smith may be enjoying putting England's bowlers to the sword this summer, but it does not make him sleep any easier.

The South Africa captain today said he struggles to wind down during Tests despite a record runs haul.

He said: "I haven't slept well, I must be honest. Not even for one night, not even after all that batting and with exhausted legs. My mind is just too active.

"I fall asleep fine but I wake up at around 4.30am and that's it, no more. The only day it's affected me on the field was the third day at Lord's, when I resumed on 200-odd. It was the first time on this whole tour I'd battled with concentration; it wavered in and out.

"It's a little bit of nerves, perhaps, but it's excitement more than anything else. They're all good, positive thoughts going through my mind. I'm sure it would be very different, and a lot harder, if your thoughts were about your lack of form, avoiding defeat, or how to motivate your team."

Smith has hit 621 runs in his last three innings, with a top score of 277, the highest Test haul by a South African.

But ahead of Thursday's Third Test at Trent Bridge - which could see the tourists take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series - the 22-year-old is keen to draw the distinction between his ambitions as a batsman and those as a captain.

He said: "I seek headlines as a player, perhaps, by making big scores and doing it consistently, but not as a captain. I don't want headlines as a captain; the team deserves those. I would hate to see a player in my team playing for himself or for the sake of records alone.

"I'd like to be known as a great player, but as a captain I'd like to be remembered for having a great team."